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Ninja Girl Adventures (Ninja Girl Adventures #1)
Ninja Girl Adventures (Ninja Girl Adventures #1)
Melissa Wilson, Phil Elmore | 2020 | Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
An exciting start that whets the appetite for more.

Moira, the middle sister, is pretty amazing. She holds her sisters together, deals with her own grief and takes her destiny in her stride.

As a start of a series I'm impressed. Ninja Girl Adventures has it all, danger, action, family, mystery.....the list goes on! Moira is a good, strong main character that is believable, down to earth and has you firmly on her side.
    Through her experiences she is encouraged to believe in herself, use love, not fear to overcome obstacles and to relax so as to feel more in her ninja training and fights.

From the very first paragraph I was hooked, you get straight into the story with background information coming throughout rather than an avalanche straight away. The action is evenly spaced out so you don't go too long without the next thing to keep your interest, yet it isn't so full on that you feel the need to take a break from it.
    All the way through I was thinking that something would happen and it did......at the very end, which leaves a nice stepping stone ready for the next installment.....which I can't wait for!

I'd recommend this as a young adult/adult read that is perfect to get your brain working a little and to keep you entertained, whether that be on a cold winter's day in front of the fire or out in the summer sun.

If I could give half scores I would but as I can't I'm going to round this up.....
  
Before She Was Helen
Before She Was Helen
Caroline B. Cooney | 2020 | Mystery
8
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Having read Caroline B. Cooney's Janie Johnson series, which many people call The Face on the Milk Carton series, I was thrilled to read her latest novel, Before She Was Helen.

While Cooney is well-known for her YA novels, Before She Was Helen, is not categorized as young adult, but as adult fiction. Her main character is Clemmie, a still-working but living in a retirement community teacher, who intentionally built a bland and quiet life for herself. Everything changes when she does a wellness check on her next-door neighbor. She photographs a stunning and beautiful object. Thinking her family would enjoy it, she shares the photo with them. The picture quickly makes its rounds on the internet, and Clemmie's life changes in a blink, and all her carefully kept secrets are threatened.

For anyone who has read Cooney, you can identify her writing style. Her words word flow in an easy and distinct manner. It is as if she writes how she talks and does not change her vernacular or style. Reading Before She Was Helen was like reading a familiar book that I never read before.

Goodreads does not list any other books set for publication as of yet.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/8/20.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2498 KP) rated Footprints Under the Window in Books

Oct 21, 2021 (Updated Oct 21, 2021)  
Footprints Under the Window
Footprints Under the Window
Franklin W. Dixon | 1963 | Children, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Spies and a Quick Trip to South America
When Frank and Joe Hardy go to meet their Aunt Gertrude on her return from a trip to South America, they arrive a little early, so they decide to head out in their motor boat. That’s when they see a man jump over the side of a ship. They pick him up, but all they get out of him is a strange warning about footprints before he runs off again. With their dad out of town on a case, they are left to try to figure out what is going on by themselves. Might it have to do with the robbery they foiled at a nearby photographic plant? And who left the footprints outside the Hardy’s house?

Even as a kid, I recognized the absurdity of the Hardys heading to South America at one point to follow a few leads, but even as an adult, it’s hard not to get caught up in the action and mystery. While things do make sense at the end, I feel like there were a few too many plot threads for them to untangle. One or two less would have helped. Still, even as an adult, I got caught up in the story. As always, the character are thin, and the story is dated. Very dated, in this case. But as long as today’s kids realize this is something from the 1960’s, they’ll be okay. I’ve got to admit, nostalgia is playing a bit in my rating since I loved this one as a kid.
  
After The Cure
After The Cure
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great characters with a story that flows well. (0 more)
A new twist and an old genre.
So, I got this book on google play for 25 cents I think it was. One of their sales. I didn't know what to expect from a book that was about the aftermath of the zombie outbreak but in the end I was surprised.
The characters are ones that I generally cared about and that made the book that much better. The story moved along nicely while not seeming to sacrifice content.
The worst part about this book is that to me it seemed caught between young adult and normal fiction. Not that it hurt but some points just didn't feel up to the task of being a grown up story.
  
The Last Hour of Gann
The Last Hour of Gann
R. Lee smith | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Realistic characters and character development (2 more)
Unique and fearless writing
Addictive
Ruined me for other authors (0 more)
Keep your mind open and you'll question everything.
This book was my introduction to this author and this story made me believe that there are still authors out there that can do whatever the hell they want without sacrificing a story for shock value. This story has plenty of shock. This book tends to get classified into genres that it doesn't quite fit. It sort of needs it's own. I recommend this book to any adult that like a little (a lot of) naughty darkness in their cup of tea. I would not recommend this to anyone with sensitivities to sex, religion, horror and abuse.
  
The Upside of Unrequited
The Upside of Unrequited
Becky Albertalli | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
9
8.2 (25 Ratings)
Book Rating
My Review: "What a great read! Honestly, I needed this after reading so many fantasy/young adult books. I don’t read many contemporary books, but when I do, this is what I look for.

First of all, it was relatable on multiple accounts. Second, the characters were so diverse and realistic. Those two things are important for me when I read a contemporary. For me, I know what it’s like for twins, especially twin sisters, as I have younger twin sisters. They two are fraternal and VERY different. They are basically the embodiment of Cassie and Molly; I was shocked how similar they were to my own sisters." Read the entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/09/20/the-upside-of-unrequited-by-becky-albertalli/
  
"Curiouser and curiouser!”
Alice in wonderland is one of those pieces of media that even if you've never read the book or heck even seen the movie you know it... It's just that legendary.

The book is one of those pieces that no matter your age you can enjoy it. As a kid it's this magical wonderland of talking animals, weird people, and a very angry queen.. And you wish you could stumble down a rabbit hole it fall through a looking glass to get to because it all just seems to wonderful. As an adult it's really no different. The book is just fun and memorable and honestly the story has stuck with me my whole life and will always stay close to my heart.